Documentation of Exhibits

Telescopes with integrated display

For the Museum Koenig in Bonn inSynergie produced two binoculars, in which a film shows a herd of elephants. The binoculars were mounted at different heights, so that both little and tall visitors have a comfortable insight. Visitors can rotate the binoculars to the left and right to take a look through the whole scene and discovering new details. inSynergie created the construction documents and was responsible for the production and assembly of the individual components. The body and the column base are special designs from steel with powder coating. In addition, the eyepieces were modeled in 3D and produced with laser sintering. The objective dummies were milled from plastic with glass lenses. The binoculars are connected via a slewing ring bearing with the base column so that they can rotate to a certain degree. inSynergie is also responsible for media technology and programming: Using a sensor the rotation is determined and the image of the film is offset horizontally on the built-in 7" screen with a software.

Torso with integrated LEDs

This exhibit explains the effect of salt onto the organs in a human body.

Visitors can press different buttons so that a text field as well as the corresponding organ in a medicinical model are enlightened.

A satinated plexiglass cube (inspired by NaCl crystals) was integrated in every organ. For this inSynergie milled square openings into the model. Every cube contains a LED light which is connected to a button.

Buoyant force in brine

At this station visitors can experiment with the different buoyant forces of bodies in brine and fresh water.

Two divers fo exactly same weight are hanging at a beam balance. The parts of the beam balance were milled and vernished in the inSynergie workshop. The divers were produced with laser sintering. Beneath the divers stand two vessels, one filled with fresh water the other filled with brine. Using a crank handle divers can be let into the liquids. The following effect becomes visible: The diver in the brine floats higher than the other one because brine has a stronger buoyant force.Furthermore, the vessels are standig on digital scales. These show the same weight. But with a turning knob at the beam balance the divers can be brought to the same dive depth. Now the display of the digital scale changes since a downward force is needed to overcome the buoyant force of the brine diver.

Coin Wheel

Part of the treasures shown in the "Centre Charlemagne" in Aaachen are 48 historical coins that are presented in a special way: In a coin wheel.

The exhibit is about 2 metres wide and almost 3 meters high. In it's middle behind glass is a wheel with 1 meter diameter in which coins are fixed in a ring. Via sensoric buttons visitors can turn this wheel to position a coin under a magnifying lense. The visitor can look at the enlarged coin under the lense and see further views and information on a screen in the middle of the wheel. The name of the emperor on the coin is enlightened with LED lights in the gigantic glass doors outside the wheel.

inSynergie produced the components of the exhibits partly in the in-house workshop and partly with sub-contractors. The software was developed by inSynergie as well.

Jukebox

For the milk bar in the PS.Speicher Einbeck the planning architects wanted a jukebox, in which visitors can select music tracks and play them over a loudspeaker unit.

inSynergie got hold of an original, fully functioning Wurlitzer jukebox. But the challenge was to connect the buttons of the jukebox to the digital signal of the play back computer. In the end a mechanical solution was chosen: The buttons of the jukebox trigger microswitches which produce the digital signal.

In the room where the jukebox is standing several loudspeakers with high sound quality were installed so that the visitors can enjoy the music without cutbacks.

Sliding Screen

The Sliding Screens in the exhibition "Centre Chalemagne - New City Museum Aachen" can be moved on tracks over a broad glass showcase. The content of the screen moves it's position synchronous to the movements of the screen itself. Therefore different information is displayed suiting the content of the showcase.At the station "Maasland" the screen is moved over a map. The screen always displays the current detail of the map behind it in the show case. By touching hotspots the visitor can retrieve more information to important locations.Another showcase contains print contact sheets of historical photographs of the city of Aachen. On screen one can enlarge single photographs and read text descriptions.Construction, installation and programming were realised by inSynergie.

LED Globes

For the State Museum of Archaeology Chemnitz inSynergie installed two interactive 360° globes with light clocking. The globes, having a diameter of 100 cm, display the earth and it's developement in timelapse.The animation on one globe shows the migration ways of human species from Africa over the earth and the meeting of Homo sapiens and the Neandertal man. The other globe displays the development of the ice coverage during the last ice age until the current global warming.

Both globes can be controlled by the visitor via two control elements so that the displayed time can be wind-back or fast-forward. The operating works with gesture recognition via camera. The selected time is displayed on a time bar of 12 LEDs. Every selection gets an accoustic feedback.

The LED globe was mounted into a tranparent protective case. inSynergie ordered a custom-made case from Plexiglas as formed bowls. Also the static foundation which was needed to set up the globes in the middle of the room was constructed by inSynergie.

Pepper's Ghost

The holographic "Pepper's Ghost" display shows the 3D reconstruction of the Steinheimer skull by means of virtual paleoanthropology in several steps.

Pepper's ghost is an illusion trick with semitransparent mirrors. Using a flat glass and special lighting in front and behind the glass the impression is created that partly transparent objects are floating in midair. The semitransparent mirror is mounted in a 45° angle in the show case. The image of the screen lying beneath becomes visible in the mirror.

Speech Ribbon

The Speech Ribbon consists of 14 DLP LED back projection systems that are circular arranged and display a video installation. The back projection was chosen so that the edge joining is as invisible as possible and so that the installation is perceived as a ribbon.

Half of the screens are touch screens with explaining video content - with moving images and open sound, that the visitor can start by touching.

Without user interaction the station shows a media installation as standby loop. It shows contemporary people as cultural medium and in different communicative situations: talking to another, with speaking gestures, nonverbal with symbols and signs.

ePaper

Since the State Museum for Archaeology Chemnitz uses very long texts as information regarding the exhibits a print solution was not practiable. Therefore digital displays were installed into the counter top of the display cases. inSynergie developed a reader with the desired content format that matches the design of the show case while the technical parts are hidden.

The inSynergie solution consist of a single compact device that contains all components (screen, sensor, switch, playback system). For the front of the device a float / ESG glass was produced on which the control elements were applied with ceramic screen printing.

Individually for this project inSynergie developed the electronics for the pressed button detection as well as a software to achieve the desired operating behaviour.

The device can go into series production, having always the same design and size, so that it can be regarded easily in the exhibition planning. Moreover it is possible to produce substitute devices so that defective devices can be exchanged anytime.

Steam Train

In the German Steam Train Museum inSynergie projected video content onto a real steam train. The projection visualizes in a stylized way what happens in the inside of a steam engine when it starts.

As soon as a visitor starts the show, the light is dimmed, the video projection and sound get started.

To prevent the content from getting deformed by the shape of the body, "projection mapping" was used. The projection is displayed by two projectors and the transition between both projection areas was made invisible with "softedge".

Standing right in front of the steam train, a subwoofer simulates the vibration of the tracks.

As extra special effect a fog machine produces steam that flows out of the chimney during the show.